Dianthus plant named &#39;KLEDP16230&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new Dianthus plant particularly distinguished by pink flowers, good branching, and an upright habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Dianthus caryophyllus.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEDP16230’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dianthus, botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEDP16230’. ‘KLEDP16230’ originated from a controlled cross between the proprietary female parent ‘DCP-2009-1003’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male parent ‘DCP-2009-0190’ (unpatented) in May 2011 in Stuttgart, Germany. A single plant was selected in June 2012 and designated ‘KLEDP16230’.

In August 2012, ‘KLEDP16230’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings. ‘KLEDP16230’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation in Stuttgart, Germany via vegetative stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Pink flowers;     -   2. Good branching; and     -   3. An upright habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Dianthus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph of a plant approximately 8 weeks old and grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany. The photograph shows the whole plant, including the flowers and foliage and buds and was taken in April 2016 in Stuttgart, Germany. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEDP16230’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected in April 2017 on 7-month old plants grown in a plastic greenhouse. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Caryophyllaceae.         -   Botanical.—Dianthus caryophyllus.         -   Common.—Pot carnation.         -   Designation.—‘KLEDP16230’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary Dianthus variety             ‘DCP-2009-1003’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The proprietary Dianthus variety             ‘DCP-2009-0190’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Plant form.—Upright, potted plant.         -   Plant height.—12.0 cm to 14.0 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—20.0 cm to 24.0 cm.         -   Propagation type.—Vegetative cuttings, stem cutting.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—14 to 16 days.         -   Root description.—White, fine.         -   Rooting habit (shape).—Lanceolate. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—11.0 cm to 13.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.0 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Number of internodes per branch/stem.—4 to 6.         -   Node length.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.         -   Node diameter.—0.4 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 144A.         -   Branch/stem appearance.—Solid. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Length.—6.0 cm to 8.0 cm.         -   Width.—0.5 cm to 0.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 144A. Lower surface:             RHS 144B.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower surface:             RHS 137A.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower surface: RHS             137A. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Round, double, small sprays.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to fall.         -   Position of flowers relative to the foliage.—Slightly above.         -   Number of flowers per spray.—3 to 4.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—10 to 14 days.         -   Buds.—Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: 1.0 cm to             1.2 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Color: RHS 138A and RHS 145A.             Extrusion of the styles at the bud stage: Absent.         -   Corolla.—Quantity of petals and arrangement: 18 to 20.             Corolla height: 1.6 cm to 2.0 cm. Petal length: 3.5 cm to             4.0 cm. Petal width: 2.0 cm to 2.5 cm. Petal shape:             Spoon-shaped. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal base: Acute. Petal             margin: Crenate. Depth of petal margin: Deep. Petal texture             (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth. Petal color:             Immature: Upper surface: RHS N66B. Lower surface: RHS 67D.             Mature: Upper surface: RHS 68A. Lower surface: RHS 68B.         -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals and arrangement: Composed of 5             sepals. Shape: Campanulate. Calyx height: 2.0 cm to 2.5 cm.             Calyx diameter (at the apex): 1.0 cm to 1.4 cm. Sepal             texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth. Sepal             color: Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS 137D. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 13.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 133A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Moderate. Filament length: 0.4             cm to 0.6 cm. Filament color: RHS 157B. Anther length:             0.1 cm. Anther diameter: 0.05 cm. Anther color: RHS 1D.             Pollen amount: Absent.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1. Pistil length: 0.1 cm.             Style length: 1.5 cm to 1.7 cm. Style color: RHS N155D.             Stigma shape: Filamentous. Stigma color: RHS 72C. Ovary             size: 0.8 cm to 1.0 cm. Ovary shape: Oval. Ovary color: RHS             144B and RHS 145B. -   Fruit and seed set: Seed is sometimes observed, but no information     on the seed is available. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect     resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEDP16230’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘KLEDP16230’ ‘DCP-2009-1003’ ‘DCP-2009-0190’ Flower color Pink Pink with a purple Yellow center

‘KLEDP16230’ can be compared to the commercial Dianthus variety SuperTrouper Claire, also known as ‘KLEDP13121’ (unpatented). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEDP16230’ SuperTrouper Claire Branching Good branching Less branching Vigor Vigorous More compact Flower time Medium Early 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dianthus plant designated ‘KLEDP16230’ as illustrated and described herein. 